Double-ball gyro precession axis bearing



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v MW M 2 H dill/I 0 ,r/l V w July 7, 1953 v. A. TAUSCHER EI'AL DOUBLE-BALL GYRO PRECESSION AXIS BEARING I Filed Oct. 18, 1949 July 7, 1953 v. A. TAUSCHER Emu. 2,644,727

DOUBLE-BALL GYRO PRECESSION AXIS BEARING Filed 0012. 18, 1949 I 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS VERNON A. TAUSGHER JOHN M. SLATER JAMES EMM/ y 1953 v. A. TAUSCHER EI'AL 2,644, 2

DOUBLE-BALL GYRO PRECESSION AXIS BEARING Filed Oct. 18, 1949 I 3 sheets-sheet s JAMES EMMI ATTORNEY Patented July 7, 195?;

DOUBLE -BALL GYRO PRECESSION AXIS BEARIN Vernon A. Tauscher, Los Angeles, John M. Slater,

Inglewood, and James Emmi, Los Angeles,

Calif., assignors to North American Aviation,

Inc.

Application October 18, 1949, Serial No. 121,964

11 Claims. (01. 398-9) This invention pertains to supporting a mass with a single degree of angular freedom, and particularly to supporting a gyroscope about its precession aXis without friction.

In the past, it has been customary to support gyroscopes in direction sensitive equipment on ball or roller bearings. Where extreme precision is required, air bearings have been proposed, such as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,200,976, issued May 14, 1940, to Mortimer F. Bates.- Supporting a gyroscope on mechanical bearings of the ball or roller type is undesirable, when more than a moderate degree of precision is required, because of the attendant friction. This varies, both with angular rotation and with changes in acceleration applied to the gyroscope, and is always relatively large. On the other hand, air bearings hitherto proposed for the purpose of supporting a gyroscope about its precessional axis have suffered from the disadvantage of requiring an almost impracticable degree of precision in order to attain the rigidity and accurate alignment required in supporting a gyroscope. Moreover, air bearings hitherto proposed have been undesirably large and cumbersome as compared with mechanical bearings, due to the prevailing theory that large area and low pressure are best for air bearings. Mechanical bearings are cheap and compact, but imprecise, and conventional air bearings are precise but expensive and bulky. I

It is an object of this invention to provide a low friction supporting device for a gyroscope which is relatively easy and cheap to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a single degree of freedom air bearing adapted to operate at relatively high air pressure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a precision air bearing with a plurality of self-aligning bearing surfaces.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for supporting a gyroscope or other device-which requires a frictionless single degree of freedom support.

It is another object of this invention to provide a small compact high pressure air bearing.

' It is a further object of this invention to'provide means forv supporting any mass with a single degree of freedom and no friction.

. Itis a further object of this invention to provide a frictionless precession axis support for a gyroscope.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a gas bearing for-supporting a gyroscope or other mass, which bearing is. compact and small in comparison to hitherto known gas bearings.

Other objects of invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich: Fig. 1 is a sectional the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an air pad of one embodiment of the invention and V Fig. {is a sectional view of an air pad of a secview of one embodimentof 0nd embodiment of the invention.

. chosen for Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a rigid frame i adapted to receive air under pressure through conduit 2. A gyroscope or other mass 3 is adjustably held by clamp members 35 and 36 to two partial shperes, fi and 5 which are in turn supported on pads 6,1, 8, 9, it and H, each of which is pivoted, on pivot members rigidly attached to frame 6. Fig. 3shows a restriction 28 in a pad 6 which forces air to flow in a thin film around the typical male pivot 3i and female pivot 32 of the device shown in Fig. 1. Additional pads l6 and I1 behind the ball members are provided for support normal to the plane of the section and two other pads similar in configuration are provided over spheres i and 5 but are not shown for the sake of simplicity, it being understood that the sectional view of Fig. l is taken at a plane of symmetry of the frame and pads. Each pivot member is adapted to receive air under pressure from conduit 2, and the pads- 6 through H, and It and ill have angular freedom with respect to their respective pivots. The pads are machined with a spherical inside contour corresponding to the external suriace of partial spheres l and 'lhe mating surfaces of the pads and partial spheres 4 and 5 are carefully ground and lapped so that the gap existent between the pads and the partial spheres our-- ing operation of the device 18 or the orderof I .0003 of an inch. Air is introduced under prese sure to conduit 2 through the pivotsoi the pads and is allowed to now through small restrictions 23 in the center or each pad as more particularly shown in rig. 3. 'i'he precessional axis or the gyroscope shown in Fig. l passes through a line joining the centers or partial spheres i and 5, and it is about this axis that t is desired to eliminate all friction in order that no extraneous torques will be applied to the gyroscope.

It is to be understood throughout this -dis--. cussion that the support scheme contemplated in this invention may be employed to support devices other than gyroscopes, but a gyroscope is illustrative purposes because the Referring again to Fig. 1, pads ti throl lgh l l and I6 and I! are restrained by the combined ac tion of their respective pivots and the reaction of partial spheres 4 and S erew"ihserts l8. l9 and are provided to give. of the corresponding pads. (not shown) are provided along two axes Derpendicular to the sheet of Fig. '1 and throu the center of pads I6 and I1, respectively. ,fI he introduction of air under pressure into the com Since the pads are pivotally supportedth'y are free to accommodate themselves to the gyroscope and partial 'spheres' consequently; they need only be lapped to the P "op r'spherical-contour and need not be particularly oii'ented with respect to f-rame I; "Alignmentof the on one end of the frame with those on "the other end is therefore el minated 'aloii'g'wit-h its attendant costly 'machinework, Itis evident that s a through I 'I, ;ahd at an n or the embodit shown in Fig. leach have three degrees of angularf r'eedom about piv'ot 31 as "shown in Fig.

3; fhe first degree of angular eedom is provided about the a-Xis of pivot 31; The other degrees of angular freedom are provided about any pair of orthogonal axes which are i efl e'n dicular to the axis of pivot "3i and pass through the rotation, point of pivotal; Pads Eth'rough l I; and- I6 and I! may be'inade on identical automatic machinery and can be interchangeable. If the pads and spheres are as nearly perfect as automat c iappfg twin allow, up appreciable frictional torque will be experienced by th'e'gyroso'pe about s 'precessio'nal axis. The only torque which may be apparent-atria introduced by reason ormctib awe-e the pads an their ective pivots, w h'prvents theatron; adj ng' itself; e'x taly to the contour of the ball and thus lets more air spillout orre'side than the other. However, with accurately "mach-ihedj as. partial spheres an pivots; the tilt or co'c g at each pas in its pivotshould be extremely-small, thereby placing a'small mailmum value on the'fr'ictional torque developed on the gyroscope.

Referr 'g'no'w were. 2, there is shown a sec oh'd efnbo iment 'of'the device shown "in Fig. '1 which "eliminates the extremely small torque developed in the device shown in Fig. 1 due to pivot friction. "In Fig. 2, spheres l2 and 2-|are Supported by floating pads is, I'll, 22', 23-, 24, 25, 26 and 21"which are air -supporte'd'between partial spheresl'-2"and 2l and flat frame surface l5. Frame-surface F5 may also be concave 'orconvex ifdesir'ed. As an example, air enters from conduit 2 in the frame member and is partially dissipated along the surf-ace between pad 14 and. surf-ace 15.- To effect the floating act-ion necessary to eliminate the torque present in the shown in Fig. 3 at ?8. W The surface of pad M in contact with partial sphere 2| is the same as in the pads of Fig. 1. Screw inserts 32a, 33, and 34, similar to those shown in Fig. 1, are provided for a similar purpose. Identical Screw nserts mot shown) may be pfovidd along two 'axes perfiehdicfilar to thesh'eet or Fig. 2 and shown in Fig. 4, at an angle. with the pad Whiq ea eaan d m ne m m M3 1 harged a r to producea tor-due on the pad to thelf'eby 'ihlpait to the iiad a slolfii; con: stant velocity spin. fin-per ctioiis' f the pad will therefore be averaged out-over one 'i'eli olution cf the has; and torque applied to the cope by the supporting means is virtually vspecially true if the axes of thespun-pads re hop 1 "t'9'l) degrees metre 'c'ess'ional axis-or the g'y'r scope. if this aagaz relationship -is hot mama into. the pad sceea may change due to var hem iaioaemg'attend ant upon change I leratioiito the gyroscope is 'su'bj ecte and thereby "applya slight torque. It may be seen'tha p'a-ds 1 3, Ill, 22; '23. 2 2, 25, 26 and 2? of the rhbodiiiien't shown Fig. 2; each 'ha've are degrees or freed in in translation and one degree of a ""'u1ar freedom; The degree oea 'gihae pro'v-idd' alilt the ax -i's of symmetry 6f each grees of freedom 'mjtra along an arbitrary {pair e pend-ieul'a-r to the'a-iis'of sym-metryof'the i a Thus it may be that'each embodiment this invention utilizes all 2618 each 6*" h have three degrees e retical' total of six- "d rotation and t- The halls and p ds of of glass or *q'ua to'proviaeincreased-pigidity inthebearing. operatingpressure of the air in this v much higher than awe; beatin -work, being 1') Q '7 This makes for dra'stic the bearihgr rafi T ereforetnese ba andpaa bearings are comparablem sizeto ban bearings.

Although the veiitioh has beeird'escribeii and illustrated in detail, is-"to ee t; 'a yonder stood that the same I s by- 'Way"ofillustration and example only and is' (it to be "taken by way-"of limitation. the spi rit arrd scope 6%- is invention being limited only My the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Means for supporting a degree of angular-f of truncated spheres sides of said mass eliminated. This is held s u-rrou said massandsaid spheresya plui ali ty ofp'ads having 'ini'i er' surfaces eoirespoadirig-t the surfaces of said spheres supported by said flame-Yer three deg'rees of freedom ahd spa'o'ed therefrom, and conduitmeans through said frame a'nd said pads for furnishing. air underpressureto"the spaces, between saidmadsqand said spheres. to

form an air film between said pads and said spheres to thereby support said mass rigidli without appreciable friction and with a single degree of angular freedom.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said pads are circular in shape and in. which said pads are supported on said frame so that their axes of symmetry intersect the line about which said mass is required to have angular freedom.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 and further comprising pivot supports on said frame and pivot sockets on said pads whereby said pads tend to be self-aligning with respect to said spheres.

4. A device as recited in claiml in which said frame has fiat machined planes on its inner surface normals to which intersect the axis of angular freedom of said mass and in which said pads are fiat on one side to conform to said flat machined surfaces, concave spherical shaped on the other side to conform to the surfaces of said spheres, and adapted to be spun at constant angular velocity by air under pressure whereby small torques due to imperfections in said pads are virtually eliminated.

5. Means for supporting a mass with a single degree of angular freedom and substantially without friction comprising a rigid frame having internal conduits, a pair of solids having convex surfaces approaching partial spheres attached to opposite sides of said mass on a line defining the required axis of angular freedom of said mass, a plurality of male pivots rigidly attached to said frame and adapted to receive air under pressure from conduits in said frame, and a plurality of circular pads having at least one concave surface corresponding to said spheres and adapted to receive air under pressure from said male pivots and distribute it to the area between said pads and said spheres, whereby said mass is entirely supported on an air film provided by said pads when air is furnished under pressure to the conduits in said frame.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 in which said pivots have an infinite radius of curvature whereby said pads accommodate themselves to the surface of said spheres by virtue of a single degree of angular freedom and two degrees of translational freedom with respect to said frame.

7. Means for supporting a mass with a single degree of angular freedom and substantially without friction comprising a rigid frame having internal conduits, a pair of truncated solid spheres adapted to fit inside said frame, adaptor clamps for fitting said spheres to said mass while allowing limited angular freedom between said spheres and said mass, a plurality of concave air bearing pads attached to said frame, conduits passing through said bearing pads adapted to receive air under pressure from said internal conduits within said frame, said pads being in close proximity to said spheres, being symmetrically disposed about said spheres andhaving three degrees of freedom with respect to said frame to allow said pads to accommodate themselves to said spheres, and means for furnishing air under pressure to said conduits to thereby support said spheres and said mass on a film of air between said spheres and said pads substantially without friction.

3. A device as recited in claim '7 in which said frame and said pads are substantially flat where they are contiguous to thereby give said pads two degrees of translational freedom and a single degree of angular freedom with respect to said frame.

9. A device as recited in claim 7 in which said frame and said pads are convex and concave respectively where they are contiguous to there by give said pads three degrees of angular freedom with respect to said frame.

10. A device as recited in claim '7 in which said pads have an even number of peripheral jets adapted to furnish a uniform spinning reaction torque to said pads to thereby average out error torques due to pad surface imperfections. 11. Means for supporting a mass comprising a pair of, balls rigidly attached to opposite sides of said mass, a rigid frame surrounding said mass and said balls, a plurality of pads having inner surfaces corresponding to the surfaces of said balls supported by said frame for three degrees of freedom and spaced therefrom, and conduit means through said frame and said pads for furnishing air under pressure to the spac between said pads and said balls to form an air film between said pads and said balls to thereby support said mass rigidly without appreciable friction.

VERNON A. TAUSCHER. JOHN M. SLATER. 7 JAMES EMMI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,920,725 Wallgren Aug. 1, 1933 2,086,896 Carter July 13, 1937 2,137,487 I-Iall NOV. 22, 1933 2,200,976 Bates May 14, 1940 

